Paruppu aracha curry literally means curry made with ground dal. This is a tasty and healthy dish made with channa dal. Beans, cluster beans and cabbage make good candidates for the dish.

Prep. Time: 30 mins

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS:

Channa dal: 3 cups

Chopped veggie (beans/cluster beans/cabbage): 1 cup

Red Chillies: 5-6 nos.

Mustard seeds: 1 tsp

Urad dal: 1 tsp

Asafoetida: 1/4 tsp

Turmeric: 1/ 4 tsp

Curry leaves: a sprig

Oil for tempering

Salt as per taste

METHOD:

Soak the channa dal for a few hours.

Cook the vegetables (do not over cook) and keep aside.

Drain the soaked dal and grind it with salt and red chillies. It should be slightly coarse. Add minimal water. **

In a kadai heat a little oil and add the mustard seeds. Once they sputter, add the asafoetida, turmeric, urad dal and curry leaves.

Add the ground dal mixture and roast the dal on medium flame (if flame is high, the curry will become too try). Mix well and drizzle oil as needed. The dal paste will now become powder.

Add the cooked vegetables and mix well.

Paruppu usli is ready. This serves as a good combination with mor kuzhambu or lemon rasam.

** Note: If you want to make the dish with least amount of oil, you can also steam the dal after grinding it. Place it on idly stands and steam it on cooker. Once done, mash the dal into a powder and continue by adding cooked vegetables.